Final-Year University Fee Support

An application for help make up the shortfall of university fees required for a young person to allow him to complete his final year at university.

Recipient: Individual student from a low-income family
Status of Activity: Financial assistance provided

1.    Overview of Support Provided 

While travelling abroad, a Director of Sansaar Care met a driver who worked approximately 15 hours a day, seven days a week. Despite working extremely hard, he could not afford accommodation and slept in his vehicle.

The driver explained that his son was entering the final year of his university degree. The family had raised most of the required tuition fees but was unable to meet the remaining balance.

Following consideration of the circumstances, Sansaar Care provided £460 to cover the shortfall, enabling the student to continue into the final year of his degree. This relatively modest grant removed the immediate financial barrier that could otherwise have prevented the student from completing his education.

2.    Identified Need and Context 

The family was experiencing financial hardship despite the father working exceptionally long hours. His income was insufficient to provide suitable accommodation for himself while also meeting his family’s living and educational costs.
The student had successfully progressed to the final year of his university degree, and the family had secured most of the required fees. However, they were struggling to raise the final £460.

Without support, the student risked having his education delayed or interrupted after completing the majority of his degree. Sansaar Care recognised that a small, targeted grant at this critical stage could protect the time, effort and money already invested in his education.

3.    Beneficiaries and Public Benefit 

The primary beneficiary is a university student from a family experiencing financial hardship. The wider beneficiaries include his parents and household, who may benefit from his improved future employment prospects and financial independence.

The grant provides public benefit by:

• Removing a financial barrier to education
• Supporting the student to complete his degree
• Improving his future employment prospects
• Reducing the risk of long-term poverty and hardship
• Increasing the likelihood that he can support his family
• Creating potential benefits for future generations

Education can have a lasting effect beyond the individual student. Once qualified and employed, he may be able to improve his family’s financial circumstances and provide greater opportunities for future generations.

3.    Support Delivered 

Sansaar Care provided a grant of £460 to meet the outstanding balance of the student’s final-year university fees.
The family had already raised most of the required amount and was not seeking full financial support. Sansaar Care’s contribution was therefore targeted specifically at the remaining shortfall.

The support enabled the student to proceed with the final year of his degree without the outstanding balance becoming a barrier to completion.

4.    Outcomes and Impact 

The immediate outcome was that the £460 university-fee shortfall was covered, allowing the student to continue into the final year of his degree.

This case demonstrates how a relatively small and carefully targeted grant can have a substantial impact when a beneficiary has already made significant progress but needs limited support to overcome the final barrier.

The student’s progress, graduation and subsequent employment outcomes should be monitored where practical.

5.    Risk, Safeguarding and Governance Considerations 

As this support was provided directly to an individual, Sansaar Care must maintain an appropriate evidence trail demonstrating financial need, educational purpose and public benefit.

Relevant controls include:

• Confirming the student’s identity and relationship to the applicant
• Verifying university enrolment and final-year status
• Obtaining evidence of the outstanding £460 balance
• Assessing the family’s financial circumstances
• Recording the reasons for approving the grant
• Making payment directly to the university where possible
• Retaining proof of payment and receipt
• Monitoring the student’s continued attendance and progress where proportionate

The decision should be based on objective financial and educational need rather than the Director’s personal contact with the family. Any potential conflict of interest should be declared and recorded.

Personal information must be handled sensitively and securely, with identifying details excluded from public reporting unless appropriate consent has been obtained.

6.    Learning and Future Application 

This case demonstrates the importance of providing timely support to people who have almost achieved an important educational goal but face a final financial barrier.

The student and his family had already raised most of the university fees. Sansaar Care’s £460 contribution provided the additional support required to help him complete his degree.

Sansaar Care will use the learning from this case when considering similar applications from students whose education is at risk because of a relatively small funding shortfall.